PDCCC Allied Health Students Celebrate Milestone

Nearly 20 students celebrated the completion of the 2012 allied health classes Monday evening at the Paul D. Camp Community College Regional Workforce Development Center.

Instructors Theresa DeBlasio, RN, BSN, and Amy Jeannette, RN, served as mistresses of ceremony. Dr. Paul Wm. Conco, PDCCC president, presented the welcome message, highlighting an excerpt from the Dr. Seuss poem, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” He emphasized lifelong learning, and said in closing, “As the poem says, now you are off and away, so have a great adventure.”

Virginia Savage, RN, BSN,the director of patient care services at Sentara Obici Hospital was guest speaker. A graduate of the (former) Louise Obici School of Nursing, she took courses at PDCCC before going to Old Dominion University to earn her Bachelor degree of Science in Nursing.

She spoke of heroes as people who make a difference in the lives of others. “You have no way of knowing the impact you can have on a person,” she said. “You all have the opportunity to be a hero and I am sure that some of you already are.”DeBlasio, Jeannette, and Nursing Program Head Dr. Candace Rogers, presented certificates to the allied health students. DeBlasio noted that some of the students have completed two areas of study.

In addition, the Academic Achievement Award was presented to Gina White, who has a grade point average of 100; the Clinical Excellence Award was earned by Melissa Lowe.

In closing remarks, Pamala Norfleet said, “We represent Paul D. Camp Community College and the Allied Health program. They held their part of the bargain, now it is up to us to take what we’ve learned and earned, and put it to good use.”